1st "off-track" experience and a couple of newbie DE driving questions....
11-17-2006 | 04:32 PM
#46
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 543
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From: back east...
Originally Posted by agio
Believe this or not, my comments are meant for the benefit of you and the other drivers on the track with you.
Originally Posted by agio
I assume that your instructor was not going "***** to the wall" in your car making you feel like you're on a "really bad rollercoaster...I had that GET ME OFF OF THIS RIDE feeling...was actually a little scary what these cars are capable of in the hands of someone who knows how to drive them."
If he was driving your car at, say, 8 or 9/10ths, then he was abusing his role as an instructor. What on earth can you learn when he drives so fast that he scares the s..t out of you. Totally counterproductive.
If he was driving your car at, say, 8 or 9/10ths, then he was abusing his role as an instructor. What on earth can you learn when he drives so fast that he scares the s..t out of you. Totally counterproductive.
Originally Posted by agio
The fact that you were "getting passed by everything on the track, even an SUV BMW X3.." shows me that your emphasis was on the wrong thing. Leave your ego in the paddock and learn to drive the car correctly. First of all, there is always a mix of drivers and cars together, so being passed by whomever means very little to anyone, but you (apparently). Do you think anyone is keeping score of who passed you and who you passed? If you pay attention to the instructor during the 1st day and the 2nd day, you probably would have progressed through the field so that being passed by others was happening less and less...but you would be doing so more safely and confidently.
Originally Posted by agio
So, you decide: do you want to drive fast? You can you know, between the numbers and then when you get to the numbers you can eekk around until you get to the next straight. Or, do you want to learn to drive the course properly? Take my word for it, the speed will come later. It's a natural by-product of smooth and consistent driving. Your objective should not be to simply "drive fast" at this point.
11-17-2006 | 04:51 PM
#47
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: back east...
Originally Posted by nota_troll
I thought dude was retired after college. 
.
.
Originally Posted by nota_troll
I overcooked that corner too. I've nearly spun in the esses and at the crest. I'll probably be at MSR again next weekend.
Git'r dunn.
Git'r dunn.
Marcus, I Hope you and your family have a good turkey day…later
11-20-2006 | 11:33 AM
#48
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 428
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From: Paradise
boze,
OK, so it's beginning to look positive regarding your driving endeavors...that's good. You did mention that you had 3 instructors for your first w/e. Is that right? In the clubs I instruct with, the student stays with the same instructor for the entire w/e, which tends to work better for the student. There are unusual circumstances of course which may change that, but normally they're the same.
At this point, I'll say good luck and keep the shiny side up.
OK, so it's beginning to look positive regarding your driving endeavors...that's good. You did mention that you had 3 instructors for your first w/e. Is that right? In the clubs I instruct with, the student stays with the same instructor for the entire w/e, which tends to work better for the student. There are unusual circumstances of course which may change that, but normally they're the same.
At this point, I'll say good luck and keep the shiny side up.
11-20-2006 | 04:06 PM
#49
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 645
Likes: 5
From: SW Michigan
[QUOTE=agio]
I can totally relate to the instructor being at 8 or 9/10ths. While I learned a ton from the instructor at my first DE, he was self-admittedly an "aggressive driver" and it was a white knuckle ride the first several laps. 
It took longer than maybe it should have to trust what my car was capable of on the track.
Beware the instructor that doesn't have a car for the event. He/she may want to have more fun in your car than you're expecting!
I ended up really respecting him, but it was kind of a fun/fear thing for a while. Good to hear I'm not the only one that has felt this way.
I second the comments on line first, speed second. In my case, I spent too many early laps trying to keep up and drive fast. Later, I focused on the line and being smooth, and had MUCH better results and was more confident/in control.
Originally Posted by boze_man
the spin happened at the 2nd DE weekend...2nd morning...
Believe this or not, my comments are meant for the benefit of you and the other drivers on the track with you.
I assume that your instructor was not going "***** to the wall" in your car making you feel like you're on a "really bad rollercoaster...I had that GET ME OFF OF THIS RIDE feeling...was actually a little scary what these cars are capable of in the hands of someone who knows how to drive them."
If he was driving your car at, say, 8 or 9/10ths, then he was abusing his role as an instructor. What on earth can you learn when he drives so fast that he scares the s..t out of you. Totally counterproductive.
The fact that you were "getting passed by everything on the track, even an SUV BMW X3.." shows me that your emphasis was on the wrong thing. Leave your ego in the paddock and learn to drive the car correctly. First of all, there is always a mix of drivers and cars together, so being passed by whomever means very little to anyone, but you (apparently). Do you think anyone is keeping score of who passed you and who you passed? If you pay attention to the instructor during the 1st day and the 2nd day, you probably would have progressed through the field so that being passed by others was happening less and less...but you would be doing so more safely and confidently.
So, you decide: do you want to drive fast? You can you know, between the numbers and then when you get to the numbers you can eekk around until you get to the next straight. Or, do you want to learn to drive the course properly? Take my word for it, the speed will come later. It's a natural by-product of smooth and consistent driving. Your objective should not be to simply "drive fast" at this point.
Believe this or not, my comments are meant for the benefit of you and the other drivers on the track with you.
I assume that your instructor was not going "***** to the wall" in your car making you feel like you're on a "really bad rollercoaster...I had that GET ME OFF OF THIS RIDE feeling...was actually a little scary what these cars are capable of in the hands of someone who knows how to drive them."
If he was driving your car at, say, 8 or 9/10ths, then he was abusing his role as an instructor. What on earth can you learn when he drives so fast that he scares the s..t out of you. Totally counterproductive.
The fact that you were "getting passed by everything on the track, even an SUV BMW X3.." shows me that your emphasis was on the wrong thing. Leave your ego in the paddock and learn to drive the car correctly. First of all, there is always a mix of drivers and cars together, so being passed by whomever means very little to anyone, but you (apparently). Do you think anyone is keeping score of who passed you and who you passed? If you pay attention to the instructor during the 1st day and the 2nd day, you probably would have progressed through the field so that being passed by others was happening less and less...but you would be doing so more safely and confidently.
So, you decide: do you want to drive fast? You can you know, between the numbers and then when you get to the numbers you can eekk around until you get to the next straight. Or, do you want to learn to drive the course properly? Take my word for it, the speed will come later. It's a natural by-product of smooth and consistent driving. Your objective should not be to simply "drive fast" at this point.
It took longer than maybe it should have to trust what my car was capable of on the track.Beware the instructor that doesn't have a car for the event. He/she may want to have more fun in your car than you're expecting!
I ended up really respecting him, but it was kind of a fun/fear thing for a while. Good to hear I'm not the only one that has felt this way.I second the comments on line first, speed second. In my case, I spent too many early laps trying to keep up and drive fast. Later, I focused on the line and being smooth, and had MUCH better results and was more confident/in control.
Last edited by Deanriffs; 11-20-2006 at 04:46 PM.
11-21-2006 | 02:08 PM
#51
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 361
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From: Toledo, OH
Bill,
I'm guessing your 1st track day was TWS. With your new found speed, I would suggest taking it easy in the mornings on turns 4, 6, 9, 12. Inexperienced students seem to go off these the most.
Look ahead, use the whole track and hit your apexes. I had a student this month at MSRH who did the most amazing thing last session of the 2nd day. Z06 on race tires and he decided he wanted to slow down, talk through the whole course for several laps trying to get the line exactly at low speed. We were able to fine tune several areas that were a bit sloppy at speed.
Interesting that T1 issue. I've never even thought about spinning there!
Enjoy,
David
I'm guessing your 1st track day was TWS. With your new found speed, I would suggest taking it easy in the mornings on turns 4, 6, 9, 12. Inexperienced students seem to go off these the most.
Look ahead, use the whole track and hit your apexes. I had a student this month at MSRH who did the most amazing thing last session of the 2nd day. Z06 on race tires and he decided he wanted to slow down, talk through the whole course for several laps trying to get the line exactly at low speed. We were able to fine tune several areas that were a bit sloppy at speed.
Interesting that T1 issue. I've never even thought about spinning there!
Enjoy,
David
11-21-2006 | 02:44 PM
#52
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Originally Posted by murphyslaw1978
Before I do my first DE, I'm going to find an instructor that allows me to ride in HIS car with HIM driving.
All of the instructors I know are very nice. They don't abuse student's cars. If an instructor regularly did, the staff would find out and suspend his instructor status.
11-21-2006 | 03:55 PM
#53
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,603
Likes: 292
From: Valencia, Spain
Originally Posted by murphyslaw1978
Before I do my first DE, I'm going to find an instructor that allows me to ride in HIS car with HIM driving.
11-21-2006 | 04:43 PM
#54
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From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by Gary R.
Most PCA Regions I know of have what's called a "Taste of the Track". As long as you are over 18 and have about $25 you can go ride in an advanced run group with an instructor. You don't have to be enrolled in the DE to do it, just check with the registrar before just showing up though..
11-21-2006 | 05:15 PM
#55
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From: Columbus, NJ
Originally Posted by Gary R.
Most PCA Regions I know of have what's called a "Taste of the Track". As long as you are over 18 and have about $25 ......
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Larry Herman
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Larry Herman
2016 Ford Transit Connect Titanium LWB
2018 Tesla Model 3 - Electricity can be fun!
Retired Club Racer & National PCA Instructor
Past Flames:
1994 RS America Club Racer
2004 GT3 Track Car
1984 911 Carrera Club Racer
1974 914/4 2.0 Track Car
CLICK HERE to see some of my ancient racing videos.
